Life In The Saddle

Protecting your phone and cards when cycling is a necessity; your jersey pocket is bombarded by spray, sweat, and grit — none of those go well with electronics. The Altuvita Cycling Phone Wallet is a neat weather-proof phone wallet that is designed for cycling.  The case is a hard-shell design, which is quite different from the other soft designs that I have reviewed and used in the past . The hard case gives significantly more drop protection for the wallet's contents; the coating material is also water resistant, as is the zipper, so it provides a weather-proof and sweat-proof barrier. Inside the Altuvita Cycling Phone Wallet you get four sleeves that can be used to house cards and paper cash. There is no zipper compartment for coins, but then perhaps few riders carry shrapnel in their pockets these days? The cards are held securely in the slots, with no risk of them slipping out when you open the wallet. On the other side of the wallet is where the phone sits. This Mk2 ver...

Retro cool. That is the best way to describe the all-new Airwave Ulladulla sunglasses from UK brand Nomad Eyewear. With a frame made from 100% recycled plastic, and a fully polarised P8K™ lens; these are an affordable, protective, and stylish set of cycling glasses. Nomad Eyewear have been making casual sunglasses for many years, but this recent foray into performance cycling eyewear is an exciting development. The brand has some impressive credentials and ideas; with all their glasses being carbon neutral, 100% UVA/UVB protective, and built to last with screwless hinges. The Airwave glasses are designed to perform. They weigh a tiny 29-grams, feature a secure fitting rubber nose piece, and offer optional interchangeable lenses for different light conditions. As a complete package they are a set of glasses that you could comfortably use for riding all year round. Sat comfortably and securely on your nose, the Nomad Airwave offers impressive coverage, as well as a distinctive ret...

Cyclists need a good phone case. We carry our phones with us as a lifeline and to capture and share the ever-evolving story of our rides. JIMMYCASE is a Californian brand that produce beautifully crafted handmade phone cases for iPhone and Android. Their unique design combines a real wood backplate, with rubber side buffers, and a unique super-elastic card sleeve on the rear. It is a winning design for the minimalist bike rider. I have been searching for the perfect phone case for cyclists, and the JIMMYCASE makes my shortlist of the top three (reviews of the other two options coming soon—check out the label 'Phone-Cases'). What makes the JIMMYCASE a good phone case for cyclists? Firstly, it is protective. Mobile phones are fragile things, and while most modern versions are waterproof, they still would not deal well with being dropped on the asphalt or trail. The JIMMYCASE is robust, rigid, and strong enough to shield your phone from drops and knocks. I admit I have not...

A protective wallet for your phone and credit cards when cycling is a necessity; your jersey pocket is bombarded by spray, sweat, and dirt—none of those go well with electronics. The Baggicase Cycling Phone Wallet is a neat weatherproof phone wallet that is designed for cycling adventures. The case is a soft case design—it is made from ripstop waterproof nylon, overlaid on a soft padded interior that helps to create rigidity and protection. The external fabric is treated with an anti-bacterial finish that reduces the chance of the case developing a foul smell after hours of being in a sweaty jersey pocket. To seal in your phone, cash, and cards, the Baggicase uses a waterproof zipper with a 'Camlock' design to hold it shut. Inside the Baggicase Cycling Phone Wallet you get three sleeves that can hold a house key, cards, and paper cash. The cards are held securely in the slots with no risk of them slipping out when you open the wallet, and one of the sleeves has a small fl...

The Felvarrom brand – meaning "I will stitch it up" – was set up in 2008; collecting used bicycle parts and materials to be cleaned-up and re-used into some great fashion accessories. I have been testing out a signature Felvarrom PUNCTURED Recycled Inner-tube Belt, and their INTUBAG Reclaimed Inner Tube Bag. The Felvarrom brand is all about the environment—making changes to re-use and reconsider what we might label as waste. All the materials are sustainably sourced and cleaned using environmentally friendly methods; the products are then formed from the useful components and the remaining residue is recycled. The Felvarrom products subtly brand you as a cyclist, and an eco-conscious individual. Felvarrom 'Punctured' Inner Tube Belt Review The Felvarrom 'Punctured' Inner Tube Belt is their signature product. Coming in 14 varied colour combinations and arriving in its own recycled inner tube pouch—the belt is made from hand-sewn bicycle inner tubes an...

I have been testing several products from Nite Ize over the last few months, and this handlebar phone mount is a fantastic little accessory to keep your smartphone secure and visible on your handlebars when you ride. As with other Nite Ize products that I have had on review , it also has an impressive quality level and some neat features. The design of the handlebar phone mount is simple: silicone straps wrap around the four corners of your smartphone; then the mount itself straps to a handlebar (or pushchair bar) using a universal wrist watch style adjustable strap. When strapped in place, the phone can be fully rotated to allow you to either use the unit in landscape or portrait mode, or to mount the holder to either a horizontal bar or one pointing directly ahead (such as a bike's stem). Once in the holder and mounted to the bars, the phone feels secure. I have used this on off-road bike rides, and the phone remains safely in the mount. It is also impressive how well the str...

A good quality high-power compact front bike light is a real asset — it can stay on your handlebars throughout the year; providing 'Be Seen' visibility as a running light, as well as helping light the way when the visibility falls. The NiteRider Lumina Micro 850 bike light is a superb example of a miniature front light that packs an impressive punch. The Lumina Micro 850 weighs only 130 grams, yet it will put out 850 lumens on maximum output for 1.5 hours. On the most economical fixed light mode it will deliver 200 lumens for 9 hours. I am a great fan of the simplicity of the NiteRider lights . The mount for example is just one single clamp design, which fits all sizes of handlebars and is fast and secure to attach. The light unit itself is robust, weatherproof, and has just one button that also doubles as a charge level indicator. Bike lights do not need to be super stylish — they need to work; that is the focus that NiteRider has maintained with their mount and unit des...

Carrying your phone, cards, ID, and spare change with you when you cycle is essential; but storing them unprotected in your jersey pocket is asking for trouble. The Zilfer Cycling Phone Wallet is a neat solution from the Australian brand; a means to keep your valuables together and safe, both on and off the bike. The design of the wallet is simple enough – the phone slides into one side, and on the other half there are four slots for cards, and a larger sleeve for things like receipts or paper money. The phone wallet then folds in two, and on the back panel there is a zipper compartment for coins and a house key. The Zilfer Cycling Phone Wallet is made from a water resistant and durable material, to help protect the contents. This material is smart enough in appearance that you could use it every day, and Zilfer have consciously only implemented subtle branding to further promote this versatility. The phone wallet does also come with a protective pouch, which can be used to slip ...

For the past six years, I have worn an OneLife ID identification wristband day-in-day-out. I originally reviewed the simple but potentially lifesaving ICE wristbands on the blog in 2013, and noted then that they are an essential 'Every Ride Carry'. I continue to advocate their use, with great support. Being able to be easily identified in the event of an emergency is a huge benefit to paramedics and hospital staff, and anyone else attending the accident scene. Detailing known allergies and past medical history on your ICE medical ID bracelet could be life-saving in the event of hospitalisation and treatment. OneLifeID is a UK business that produces a range of ICE bracelets and tags; the above pictured recycled tyre Stealth wristband is my current everyday wear. The products are subtle, stylish, and super durable; but they achieve their aim with great success; you can detail a surprisingly amount on the wrist band itself, and then add further information to an online profi...

I have got a bit of a thing for wallets. The RidePac and RidePac Lite from UK brand Velopac are two of my favourite new additions to my 'Every Ride Carry' . Those who know me will know that my Bellroy Phone Pocket is in my hand for a significant portion of the day. It houses my phone, cash, and cards; essentials for my every day life. The only downfall of the Bellroy, is that over time the leather begins to suffer with constant subjection to sweat and rear wheel spray, when it is housed in your jersey pocket. It is also an expensive piece of kit to watch deteriorate. The RidePac from Velopac provides an alternative, at a very competitive price. For £20 for the RidePac Lite, or £32 for the RidePac original, this is a relatively low cost investment for the protection it provides to your phone and valuables. Yes, you could use a plastic freezer bag, and it would also protect your phone from your sweaty lower back; but, it won't last very long, and it will look distinc...

Some products are faultless. You use them every day, and every time you think about their great functionality they make you smile. The range of wallets and phone pouches from Australian brand Bellroy, fit firmly into that 'impeccable' category. I use my Bellroy All-Conditions Phone Pocket Wallet  every day. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter , you will have likely seen it placed in kit layouts, on café tables, and in jersey pockets. It is a fantastic little case, which is perfect for holding ride essentials, safely and securely. The Bellroy All-Conditions Wallet is a new addition to my 'Every Ride Carry'. It holds many of the great attributes of the All-Conditions Phone Pocket, but in miniature size. Small enough to clasp in your hand, the All-Conditions Wallet will hold your cash, cards, keys and coins, in a weather-resistant pouch. The wallet is made from Bellroy's water resistant leather, and uses a YKK water resistant zip. It certainly provides ...

Chilling down is one of the best ways to kick-start recovery after a hot ride. During my #5MaratonasChallenge ( view the blog series here ), I had some rides in 30 degree heat; cooling your core temperature down after a ride like that is crucial to good sleep and recovery. The HexArmor ColdRush Du Rag Cooling Clothing is a neat solution, which helps to rapidly cool down your head and neck - one of the greatest areas of blood flow in the body. Although it is not a cycling specific product, this kind of cloth has been used by many sports teams in search of marginal recovery gains. To use it, you simply soak it in water; then wear it for up to 1 hour, to significantly aid the cooling process. The Garmatex fabric is designed to wick away sweat and moisture from your brow, head and neck, and provide a notable cooling effect. It is a really simple product, but it works. I was certainly grateful for it to wear in the heat of the Italian Dolomites. View the HexArmor products at Hex...

The camera cases, phone cases, rucksacks and bags from Thule have long been some of my favourite products to use. The superb build quality of the Thule kit never ceases to impress, and its durability makes it very good value for money. In this review, I'm looking at the smart Thule Legend GoPro Advanced case, which will house 2 GoPro cameras and many accessories, for easy and safe transportation. Safe and organised transportation I am making a conscious effort to work on my videography skills; using a GoPro or TomTom Bandit action camera to capture events and adventures. The only issue with this, is that it is even more valuable kit to safely transport between locations.  The Thule Legend GoPro Advanced case is designed to house two cameras and accessories, in die-cut foam padding, and a crushproof outer shell.  The rugged case keeps everything secure, whilst the foam padding helps to protect and organise your filming kit. In the lid of the hard case, there...

Thule have become one of my favourite brands over the last few years of testing their kit. The Swedish company seems to consistently deliver high quality products, which last years of use and abuse; whether that be their rucksacks , laptop cases , or bike carriers . In this post, I'm looking at their latest phone case: the Thule Atmos X4 for iPhone 7. This is a drop-proof, screen-protecting case, which provides a slim-line protective shield for your phone. A few years ago, I reviewed the Thule Atmos X3 for iPhone 5 , and it proved to be a great case for the three years that I used it for; protecting my phone from numerous drops and bumps. The Thule Atmos X4 is an upgrade on the X3, because as well as providing protection from drops and hits on the back of the phone, it also provides a protective screen shield on the front. The Thule Atmos X4 was a doddle to fit. You simply pop the phone into the back section of the case, and then place on the screen protecting front half. O...